11-Year-Old Killed in Crossfire in Kraaifontein Gang Shooting, South Africans Shaken

• An 11-year-old from Kraaifontein in Cape Town was the victim of a shootout between two rival gangs, which injured others
• The incident happened on 19 August 2025 when an unknown suspect started shooting in the street
• South Africans condemned the gun and gang violence in the Cape Flats as the South African Police Service investigates a murder case

Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, covered a range of criminal activities, including cash-in-transit heists, kidnappings, taxi violence, police investigations, police shootouts, and court cases at Daily Sun for over three years.

KRAAIFONTEIN, CAPE TOWN — An anti-gender-based violence organisation condemned a gang-related shooting in Kraaifontein, Cape Town, which claimed the life of an 11-year-old girl on 19 August 2025.

According to IOL, the incident happened in Wallacedene in Mti Street in the evening. The children were playing on the street when an unknown suspect started shooting in the street. Three people were shot, and two survived the incident. The 11-year-old girl was declared dead on the scene.

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The South African Police Service is investigating a case of murder and attempted murder, and confirmed that no arrests were made. The police called on members of the public to come forward with information leading to the suspect's arrest.

Anti-GBV organisation slams incident

Siyabulela Monakali, the spokesperson of anti-GBV organization Ilitha Labantu, condemned the incident and said that the incident highlighted how children are not safe in gang-ridden communities. Monakali said that Gang violence is rooted in poverty, inequality, and neglect in townships.

Gang shootings in South Africa

A 12-year-old girl was killed during a gunfight between the 28s and Nice Time Kids on 30 January 2024 in the Cape Flats. The two gangs were engaged in s turf war and were shooting at each other. The little girl was caught in the crossfire.

The Western Cape Health Department reported in November 2024 that 79 children were killed in the Cape Flats between 1 September and 20 November. This was after a 14-year-old was shot dead while walking home from school in Elsies River on 19 November.

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What did South Africans say?

Netizens commenting on Facebook were devastated by the gang violence.

Kudzaishe LAverty Sennah said:

"All over Cape Town, and some will blame foreigners for this."

T Andi Chepane asked:

"Do we still have a government in this country?"

Glaston Vutikan said:

"That's our everyday life in South Africa now."

Yogan Damodharan said:

"Gang violence, murder — South Africa is becoming a war zone."

Xolani Mlaba said:

"What is happening to the coloured community in Cape town is troubling. The SA is sitting back quietly because it's not white people."

2 die in Western Cape shooting

In a similar article, Briefly News reported that two people were killed and one was injured in a shooting in Mitchell's Plain on 4 July 2025. The incident happened on San Francisco Street in Portland.

A group of young people was on the premises when the shooting took place. Those responsible for the shooting fled the scene and were not arrested.

Source: Briefly News